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Councillors were also unhappy that the vast majority (7,017) of notices issued were for discarded cigarettes, compared to just 111 for dog fouling, with only 18 fouling offences punished during the last 12 months.

Just over 110 fines out of more than 7,000 were handed out for dog fouling in Flintshire by Kingdom Security officers

In response, Kingdom representatives said they act swiftly to investigate when accusations are made against officers and that dog fouling was difficult to monitor.

But Shotton West councillor Sean Bibby said: “With the job you do, you’re not going to be popular, but there does seem to be a big cloud over your company regarding allegations made in the press.

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“We also educate the public by talking to them so we are having a positive impact.”

But the majority of councillors backed a recommendation moved by councillor David Evans not to renew the contract with Kingdom and to bring the service in house.

If the scrutiny committee motion is approved by the council’s cabinet next week, it would see the authority increase the number of its own officers to provide a similar level of litter enforcement, but adopt a stronger focus on educating the public.